Twelve Categories of Beings
“Ananda, one of the twelve categories of beings comes into existence as a result of false thinking, which arises from distorted mentality, and then gets united with vital energy. Eighty-four thousand kinds of animals with a propensity for either flying or swimming, such as fish, birds, turtles, and snakes, are thus born from eggs, bound to the cycle of death and rebirth, and multiplying throughout the world.
“Another category of beings comes into existence as a result of impure thinking arisen from distorted desires and then united with procreative substance. Eighty-four thousand kinds of beings with a propensity for either standing vertical or horizontal, such as humans, beasts, dragons, and immortals, are thus born from wombs, bound to the cycle of death and rebirth, and transmigrating throughout the world.
“And then another category of beings comes into existence as a result of attachment, arisen from distorted penchants, and united with warmth. Eighty-four thousand kinds of beings with a propensity for either fluttering or wriggling, such as insects and invertebrates, are thus born in the presence of moisture, bound to the cycle of death and rebirth, and multiplying throughout the world.
“Further, another category of beings comes into existence as a result of transformation arisen from distorted craving for change, and then united with physical contact. Eighty-four thousand kinds of beings with a propensity for converting the old into something entirely new, such as certain metamorphic flying creatures, are thus born by metamorphosis, bound to the cycle of death and rebirth, and transmigrating throughout the world.
“Moreover, another category of beings comes into existence as a result of stagnation, arisen from mental obstruction and then united with attachment. Eighty-four thousand kinds of bioluminescent beings with a propensity for brilliance and illumination are thus born visible, of either auspicious or inauspicious nature, bound to the cycle of death and rebirth, and transmigrating throughout the world.
“And another category of beings comes into existence as a result of dispersion, which arises from doubts and then gets united with darkness. Eighty-four thousand kinds of beings with a propensity for obscurity are thus born invisible, abiding in emptiness or nothingness, still bound to the cycle of death and rebirth, and transmigrating throughout the world.
“And then another category of beings comes into existence as a result of illusory imaginings arisen from distorted shadows and united with memories. Eighty-four thousand kinds of beings with a propensity for clinging to seclusion and entanglement, such as spirits, ghosts, phantoms, and devious beings, are thus born with cognition yet without body, transmigrating throughout the world and bound to the cycle of death and rebirth.
“And another category of beings comes into existence as a result of obtuseness and slowness, arisen from mental insufficiency and then united with obstinacy. Eighty-four thousand kinds of beings with a propensity for dry cognitive function, such as dirt, wood, metal, or stone, are thus born without thought, still bound to the cycle of death and rebirth, and transmigrating throughout the world.
“Furthermore, another category of beings comes into existence as a result of overreliance and dependency, arisen from false identities and united with impurity and defilement. Eighty-four thousand kinds of beings with a propensity for symbiosis, such as sea anemones and the like that use shrimp as their eyes, are thus born with no self-sufficient forms, multiplying throughout the world and bound to the cycle of death and rebirth.
“And another category of beings comes into existence as a result of enticement and interaction, arisen from distorted natures, and commanded by mantras, spells, or curses. Eighty-four thousand kinds of beings with a propensity for reckoning and summoning are thus born, sometimes with forms or sometimes without forms, multiplying throughout the world and bound to the cycle of death and rebirth.
“Moreover, another category of beings comes into existence as a result of false unity, which arises from deception, and then gets united with difference. Eighty-four thousand kinds of beings with a propensity for interchange and substitution, such as wasps or other creatures that turn the offspring of a different species into their own, are thus born and multiplying throughout the world, being bound to the cycle of death and rebirth.
“Further, another category of beings comes into existence as a result of malice and enmity, arisen from the karma of killing and united with monstrousness. Eighty-four thousand kinds of beings with a propensity for devouring one’s parents are thus born, transmigrating throughout the world, and bound to the cycle of death and rebirth, sometimes with a cognitive capacity, sometimes without a cognitive capacity, such as owls that hatch their young from dirt, or mirror-smashing birds that incubate toxic fruits, and the offspring then feed on their parents.
“The above-mentioned are the twelve categories of beings.”
阿難由因世界虛妄輪迴動顛倒故。和合氣成八萬四千飛沈亂想。如是故有卵羯邏藍流轉國土。魚鳥龜蛇其類充塞。
由因世界雜染輪迴欲顛倒故。和合滋成八萬四千橫竪亂想。如是故有胎遏蒱曇流轉國土。人畜龍仙其類充塞。
由因世界執著輪迴趣顛倒故。和合軟成八萬四千飜覆亂想。如是故有濕相蔽尸流轉國土。含蠢蠕動其類充塞。
由因世界變易輪迴假顛倒故。和合觸成八萬四千新故亂想。如是故有化相羯南流轉國土。轉蛻飛行其類充塞。
由因世界留礙輪迴障顛倒故。和合著成八萬四千精耀亂想。如是故有色相羯南流轉國土。休咎精明其類充塞。
由因世界銷散輪迴惑顛倒故。和合暗成八萬四千陰隱亂想。如是故有無色羯南流轉國土。空散銷沈其類充塞。
由因世界罔象輪迴影顛倒故。和合憶成八萬四千潛結亂想。如是故有想相羯南流轉國土。神鬼精靈其類充塞。
由因世界愚鈍輪迴癡顛倒故。和合頑成八萬四千枯槁亂想。如是故有無想羯南流轉國土。精神化為土木金石其類充塞。
由因世界相待輪迴偽顛倒故。和合染成八萬四千因依亂想。如是故有非有色相成色羯南流轉國土。諸水母等以蝦為目其類充塞。
由因世界相引輪迴性顛倒故。和合呪成八萬四千呼召亂想。由是故有非無色相無色羯南流轉國土。呪咀厭生其類充塞。
由因世界合妄輪迴罔顛倒故。和合異成八萬四千迴互亂想。如是故有非有想相成想羯南流轉國土。彼蒱盧等異質相成其類充塞。
由因世界怨害輪迴殺顛倒故。和合怪成八萬四千食父母想。如是故有非無想相無想羯南流轉國土。如土梟等附塊為兒。及破鏡鳥以毒樹果抱為其子。子成父母皆遭其食其類充塞。是名眾生十二種類。
Buddha Mind 